All articles tagged with #department of homeland security
A former ICE trainer, Ryan Schwank, testified before Congress that ICE slashed 240 hours from its 580-hour academy—including courses on use of force, detentions, and firearms—and accused ICE leadership of lying to Congress about the cuts; DHS disputes the claim, saying training hours were not reduced as part of a scheduling shift amid scrutiny of the Trump-era immigration crackdown.
A Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge vacated a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling on mandatory detention, blasted the Trump administration’s immigration policies as terrorizing both immigrants and citizens, faulted DHS and ICE for their operations, and ordered DHS to notify detained immigrants about bond eligibility in a language they understand and to provide attorneys within an hour, signaling continued judicial pushback and likely appeals in related cases.
The Trump administration condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s executive order reaffirming sanctuary protections, arguing it would make the city less safe as Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for sanctuary jurisdictions unless protections are rolled back by a Feb. 1 deadline. Mamdani’s order directs agencies to comply with sanctuary laws and train staff but does not create new restrictions, and DHS criticized the move as unsafe. The funding-cut deadline passed without immediate action, amid broader Democratic pushback against immigration enforcement measures following protests in Minneapolis.
At a Minnesota detention hearing, ICE attorney Julie Le said persuading ICE to follow court orders was like 'pulling teeth,' a remark that preceded her firing and widespread scrutiny of the Trump-era immigration operation, as DHS and DOJ officials clash over detainee releases and there have been mass resignations within Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Trump administration is pushing to expand immigration detention nationwide by converting warehouses into ICE facilities in 23 towns across eight states, targeting up to 3,000 arrests per day and potentially housing tens of thousands of detainees. The plan has sparked backlash even in MAGA-leaning communities, with protests in Virginia, Oklahoma, and New Jersey and multiple deals halted, underscoring deep concerns about detention policy, local impact, and the administration’s approach to ICE operations.
A 67-year-old retiree says Homeland Security investigators arrived at his home and issued an administrative subpoena hours after he emailed a federal prosecutor criticizing a deportation case, highlighting DHS’s use of broad, oversight-light subpoenas that civil-liberties groups warn could chill speech. Google notified him of a data-requisition tied to the case, though the agency reportedly did not obtain his information, and DHS describes the subpoenas as part of a criminal investigation.
The Senate's funding package to keep federal agencies open stalled after Lindsey Graham placed a hold; the plan would strip DHS funding, and with the House not back until Monday, a partial government shutdown is expected to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday unless a new deal is reached.
Kristi Noem is under White House scrutiny over DHS's handling of the Minneapolis shooting but is expected to keep her job. The administration has reshuffled Border Patrol leadership, with Tom Homan taking the Minneapolis mandate and Gregory Bovino set to depart Minnesota, amid internal DHS tensions and criticism of public messaging. In the backdrop, some Democrats have moved to impeach Noem, underscoring the political peril surrounding the incident and its handling.
Amid a Minneapolis incident involving federal immigration agents, a growing bloc of Senate Democrats says they will oppose the six-bill funding package that funds DHS and immigration enforcement, raising the odds of a partial government shutdown next week as Republicans seek enough Democratic votes to move the package to a final vote.
Jonathan Ross, a 43-year-old ICE deportation officer and Iraq War veteran, allegedly lied to neighbors about his work by claiming to be a botanist; he is linked to the Jan. 7 Minneapolis shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot three times through her car window as she tried to drive away.
The Trump administration has temporarily halted all immigration applications from 19 high-risk countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Venezuela, following a security incident involving an Afghan national.
A judge in DC has limited the use of warrantless immigration arrests by the Department of Homeland Security, emphasizing that such arrests require probable cause and criticizing DHS officials' public statements suggesting a lower standard of suspicion.
The ICE is struggling to efficiently hire 10,000 deportation officers due to logistical issues, inadequate vetting, and rapid onboarding processes, despite significant funding and a high volume of applicants, leading to concerns about the quality and readiness of new recruits.
The Department of Homeland Security is purchasing two Gulfstream G700 jets for over $170 million to replace older planes, aiming to enhance safety and mission readiness, with the jets featuring luxurious interiors and advanced communication equipment, though the purchase has faced political criticism.
Several Texas airports, including Dallas, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, are not displaying a government video blaming Democrats for the shutdown, citing their advertising policies that prohibit political content; other major airports nationwide are also not showing the video amid ongoing travel disruptions caused by the shutdown.